Display push switch for use with display device having an image transmission member fixedly disposed within a switch housing

Abstract

A display push switch has a switch housing having an open upper end and an open lower end. A key top member made of substantially transparent material is disposed within the open upper end of the switch housing. The key top member is operable by an operator to be pushed into the switch housing. An image transmission member is disposed within the switch housing. A lower end surface of the image transmission member confronts a surface structure of a display device through the open lower end of the switch housing. An upper end surface confronts the key top member and is spaced from the switch housing to permit a stroke movement of the key top member when the key top member is pushed by the operator. The image transmission member includes a plurality of image transmission elements each having a longitudinal axis in a vertical direction. The image transmission elements are arranged in juxtaposed relationship with each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display push switch adapted for mounting on a surface structure of a display device, comprising: a switch housing having an open upper end and an open lower end;   a key top member made of substantially transparent material and disposed within said open upper end of said switch housing, said key top member being operable by an operator to be pushed into said switch housing; and   image transmission means fixedly disposed within said switch housing and having a lower end surface and an upper end surface, said lower end surface fixedly confronting the surface structure of the display device through said open lower end of said switch housing, and said upper end surface confronting said key top member and being spaced from said switch housing and said key top member to permit a stroke movement of said key top member when said key top member is pushed by the operator;   said image transmission means including a plurality of image transmission elements each having a longitudinal axis extending between said upper and lower end surfaces in a vertical direction and operable to transmit an image from said display device to said key top member, said elements being arranged in juxtaposed relationship with each other.   
     
     
       2. The display push switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said image transmission elements are made of optical fibers. 
     
     
       3. The display push switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said image transmission elements are lens elements each operable to form an image by itself. 
     
     
       4. The display push switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper end surface and said lower end surface of said image transmission means are formed as flat surfaces extending in parallel with each other. 
     
     
       5. The display push switch as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said lens elements has a substantially circular section and has a refractive index distribution in section such that the refractive index increases toward the center of the circular section. 
     
     
       6. The display push switch as defined in claim 3 wherein said key top member has an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface being exposed to the outside, said inner surface confronting said upper surface of said lens means, and one of said outer and inner surfaces being formed as a mat surface, so that the image displayed on the display device and transmitted by said image transmission means is formed on said mat surface as an erecting real image. 
     
     
       7. A display push switch device adapted for mounting on a surface structure of a display device, comprising a plurality of display push switches each positioned above the surface structure of the display device and having open bottom, each of said display push switches including: a key top member operable by an operator to be pushed and having a mat surface formed thereon; and   an image transmission means disposed below said key top member and fixed in position;   said image transmission means having an upper surface confronting said key top member and having a lower surface confronting the surface structure of the display device;   said image transmission means including a plurality of self-focusing lens elements positioned in juxtaposed relationship with each other, so that a corresponding part of a picture of character displayed on the display device is formed on said mat surface as an equimultiple real image for visual recognition by an operator.   
     
     
       8. The display push switch device as defined in claim 7, wherein said lens elements have the same length and flat upper and lower ends so that said upper and lower surfaces of said image transmission means are flat, and wherein said mat surface of said key top member and said upper and lower surfaces of said image transmission means are positioned in parallel to said surface structure of the display device.